Alice Van de Walle

How would you describe what you do?

What I do is close to visual arts, through painting and drawing. My approach is about bringing a bit of joy, color, and lightness. When people see my work, I want them to feel something positive, a sense of well-being.

Is it only painting, or do you explore other materials?

It's mainly painting. I started with drawing and more classical works, but in recent years I've done a lot of murals on large walls, in hotels and private spaces. I don't limit myself, I also explore other things, but I don't show everything yet. I love ceramics and I'd like to explore more three-dimensional work, but for now it's still very personal.

What led you to start your personal project?

Since I was a child, I always wanted to do this. But I followed a more academic path. I studied law, then did a master's in Paris. After that I worked in communication at the Michelin Guide, in gastronomy, which I loved.

And then you decided to change?

Yes. I had what you could call a dream job. Everything was perfect, but I didn't feel good. So I realized I had to listen to myself. I left everything in 2019 and started my artistic path.

What challenges did you face when starting?

It was special because it was during the lockdown. But I was lucky, my old colleagues supported me and became my first clients. I started doing illustrations for them, and my path grew through small projects that came naturally.

Do you still connect painting and meditation?

Yes, completely. For me meditation is about being present. Recently my work has become more intuitive, more abstract. I sit in front of the canvas, I calm down, and I let things come. It feels like a new step in my practice, less intellectual, more guided by the body and the heart.

How did you experience this shift?

I think it's strongly connected to becoming a mother. Something changes physically and emotionally. It took time, but now it feels more fluid and clear, like something opened.

How is your relationship with your work now?

Yes, I let things happen more. Before I was impatient, I wanted to reach the final result quickly. Now I'm calmer. If something doesn't work, I just try again. I think motherhood helped me a lot with that.

Do you remember the first time you painted?

Not really, because it has always been there. My mother kept a painting I made when I was ten months old. It's just fingerprints, but it means a lot to me. I even made business cards as a child, calling myself a painter.

And at some point you moved away from that?

Something inside me was turned off by the system and the fear of failure. I was a good student, so I followed the expected path. Later I realized that even if I could succeed in that path, it wasn't right for me.

Was it difficult to start living from your art?

Honestly, it felt very fluid. Things aligned. Of course there are ups and downs, but I take them as part of the process. It also helps me work on my fears.

Do you mostly work on commissions?

Yes, mostly. I like creating in relation to a place or a person. I need context. That's why I love murals. I also started a project called Your Very Own Lucky Charm, where I create small paintings for people based on their personal stories and what they need emotionally.

How do you balance your personal life and your creative life?

Since I have a baby, it's very different. But I don't like separating personal and professional life. Everything is my life. My daughter is part of it. We bring her with us to projects. If I can't, I don't take the project. It may sound radical, but it keeps me aligned.

I have less time, but I'm more efficient. And I also learn from her. She influences my work, sometimes even directly when she paints with me. I try to listen to her rhythm. It teaches me a lot.

Do you feel confident calling yourself an artist?

It's something you feel inside. It doesn't mean there are no doubts. Of course I still have things I want to achieve. But I can live from my art, I'm free, and that's already enough.

It's really something you feel in your heart. You just know it's there. There are many things I would like to do that I haven't done. But I try to let go of that and accept that this is my path. I am where I'm supposed to be right now.

Is being close to nature important for your practice?

Yes. That's why living by the sea is so important for me. Even just five minutes on the beach helps to clear your mind and let things flow, and today silence feels like a luxury.

What would you tell the person you were when you started?

To ask fewer questions and listen more. To trust less the mind and more the heart. It's not easy, it's something you work on every day, but that's the path.

Photography credits: Alice Van de Walle.

Repose Archive is a creative direction journal documenting processes and projects across art, design, architecture, and hospitality.